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Guess who Enter the Mahanayakes are the busiest people around these days? No, not the politicians who have to trek the length and breadth of the country on the campaign trail. It surely must be the Mahanayakes up in their hill country vihares at Malwatte and Asgiriya.
The manner in which the most reverend theras are being quoted in the media one must assume that their appointment diaries are filled to the margins with the President, the Leader of the Opposition and a variety of others queuing to pay their respects, get their blessings- and to be seen with them for the television cameras.
And the most reverend theras are not disappointing us either, showing us that they are quite well versed in the nuances of current politics. Why, when the President accused the Leader of the Opposition of striking a deal with Velupillai Prabhakaran, it was the Mahanayakes who called for an explanation from the United National Front.
An explanation they did get, pronto at that, with the UNF dispatching their leaders to visit Kandy and reassure the theras. And then the headlines screamed that the Mahanayakes have accepted that assurance and the Sinhala nation sleeps easy- but only for a short while.
Who should then come knocking at the vihara doors but the President herself. And the lady too is accorded a cordial welcome out of politeness or otherwise and she too assures the religious leaders that she would not betray the Sinhala Buddhist nation as against you-know-who.
Then, just when you think the show is over there is- surprise, surprise- Wimal Weerawansa, long haired, loquacious and a Leninist to boot but nevertheless going down respectfully on both knees, presenting the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna manifesto to the Mahanayakes. Gosh, what would have Lenin-or Wijeweera, for that matter- said?
Spare a thought then, for the most reverend sirs of Malwatte and Asigiriya. They who subscribe to a way of life which aspires to get rid of all cravings have to oblige the cravings of the power hungry. Even if it is only for the short nomination period preceding the elections it still must be a tremendous burden- when elections are held every year or so!
And it must surely weigh on the collective conscience of the Mahanayakes to administer pansil to these august personalities who visit them. Just imagine: Paanaathipaathaa to those who kill to remain in power, Adinaadaanaa to those who loot the nation of its assets and of course Musaawaadaa to all politicians in general must jar the sensibilities of the reverend sirs very much but then they must be so accustomed to it by now that they may well be considering it an occupational hazard.
So, everyone has a price to pay, even the Mahanayakes.
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